Gas-cushion vehicles

ABSTRACT

A planing surface provided with a water inlet for the vehicle&#39;&#39;s water reaction propulsion means forms part of a member located within the gas-cushion space of the vehicle which member is displaced upwardly against the action of resilient means and has a downwardly protruding keel portion to prevent the planing surface from grounding when the vehicle is operating on land or in very shallow water. Auxiliary propulsion means are provided for use when said water reaction propulsion means is inoperative.

United States Patent inventor Rowland D. Hunt Fareham, England Appl. No. 788,231 Filed Dec. 31, 1968 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 Assignee Vosper Limited Priority Jan. 11, 1968 Great Britain 1609/68 GAS-CUSHION VEHICLES 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 114/665 Int. Cl B63b 1/22 Field of Search 114/67.1, 66.5 (H) [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,384,198 5/1968 Jones et al. 114/67 3,456,61 1 7/1969 Johnson 1 14/665 Primary Examiner-Andrew H. Farrell Attorney-Norris and Bateman ABSTRACT: A planing surface provided with a water inlet for the vehicles water reaction propulsion means forms part of a member located within the gas-cushion space of the vehicle which member is displaced upwardly against the action of resilient means and has a downwardly protruding keel portion to prevent the planing surface from grounding when the vehicle is operating on land or in very shallow water. Auxiliary propulsion means are provided for use when said water reaction propulsion means is inoperative.

PATENIED FEB 9 |97| SHEET lUF 3 {D 141,- "7 J /7q5 INVENTOR ROWLAND DELVILLE HUNT By rmtmiumemn 31561389 sum 2 or s 4 k U/// J2. M a

INVENTOR ROWLAND DELVILLE HUNT By (\JOM'M QnD Q/ PATENTED FEB 9 |97| 1 3,5 1,3 9

I sum 3' or 3 Inventors ROWLAND D. HUNT Attorneys Q famw GAS-CUSHION VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION- The invention relates to gas-cushion vehicles of the type having a planing surface and waterjet propulsion means.

The term water jet propulsion means comprises all water reaction propulsion means which have an inlet and outlet, and includes a screw propeller housed within a tunnel.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide means for enabling a gas-cushion vehicle of the type referred to to be beached and returned to the water for loading and unloading without damage to the water jet propulsion means.

According to the invention, a gas-cushion vehicle having water jet propulsion means and a planing surface is provided with at least one inlet in said surface for the water jet propulsion means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a gas-cushion vehicle as according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in the direction indicated by the arrow 2 in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the member shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of an alternative member;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of a modification of the gascushion vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of part of a vehicle similar to that shown in FIG. I, drawn to a larger scale, illustrating an altemative arrangement of some of-the components, and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a hydraulic jack for adjusting the position of the planing surface.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a gas-cushion vehicle has a hull 10 carrying a full flexible skirt II and a power unit 12 driving fans (not shown) for supplying air under pressure to the space 13 enclosed by the skirt 11 to provide an air cushion for supporting thevehicle. Water jet propulsion means 14 housed within part of the hull 10 are adapted to eject water rearwardly into the space 13 to propel the vehicle. Pivotally mounted adjacent that portion of the hull 10 containing the water jet propulsion means 14, about an athwartships axis 15, is a member 16 comprising a planing surface I7 and a downwardly extending keellike member 18. The member 16 is urged downwardly by resilient means 19. Two elliptical inlets formed in the face of the planing surface 17 are connected to the water jet propulsion means 14 by flexible connection means 21. Auxiliary propulsion means 22, such as high power/weight ratio gas turbine jet engines, are provided for temporary operation of the vehicle in very shallow water or on land.

When traveling over water, the vehicle is supported by the air cushion and propelled by the water jet propulsion means I4. Movement of the vehicle creates a reaction between the surface of the water and the planing surface 17 and the inlets 20 are maintained adjacent the surface of the water. For the loading and unloading of cargo the vehicle may be run onto a beach. This may be accomplished either by the momentum of the vehicle as it leaves the water carrying it on to the beach or by the auxiliary propulsion means 22. The vehicle may be returned to the water by allowing it to slide down the beach on a cushion of air or by using the auxiliary propulsion means 22. The vehicle may be returned by to the water by allowing it to slide down the beach on its cushion of air or by using the auxiliary propulsion means depending upon the prevailing conditions. During beaching operations, the ability of the member 16 to move about the axis I5 protects the inlets 20 and the planing surface 17 which are pushed out of contact with the beach by the lower edge of the keellike member I8 contacting the beach and compressing the resilient means 19.

In a modification shown in FIG. 7, the resilient means 19 of FIG. I is replaced by means for positively adjusting the position of the member 16, for example a double-acting hydraulic jack 39.

In another modification, see FIG. 4, the member I6 comprises a planing surface I7 containing an inlet 20 and interconnecting two laterally-spaced keellike members 18.

In a further modification, see FIG. 5, the water jet propulsion means I4 are adapted to eject water rearwardly aft of the rear skirt.

In yet another modification, see FIG. 6, the water jet propulsion means 14 is housed within the member I6 and is driven by a power unit 30 in the hull 10 via a shaft 3], a first bevel gear unit (not shown), a shaft 32, a second bevel gear unit (not shown), a shaft coaxial with the axis 15, a third bevel gear unit (not shown), and a shaft 33.

I claim:

l. A gas-cushion vehicle having water jet propulsion means and a planing surface, characterized in that said planing surface contains a water inlet for said propulsion means.

2. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim I, further characterized in that said planing surface is part of an upwardly displacable member.

3. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim I, further characterized in that said inlet is' elliptical.

4. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said member has a downwardly extending keel.

5. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said member is pivotable mounted at its forward end about an axis which is transverse of the vehicle.

6. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that resilient means are interposed between said member and the hull of the vehicle.

7. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that positively adjustable means are interposed between said member and the hull of the vehicle.

8. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said propulsion means is housed within said displacable member.

9. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 6, further characterized in that said member has a downwardly extending keel.

10. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 7, further characterized in that said member has a downwardly extending keel.

II. A gas-cushion vehicle having water jet propulsion means and a planing surface, characterized in that said planing surface is part of a member disposed within the vehicles cushion space and pivotable pivotably mounted at its forward end about an axis which is transverse of the vehicle, resilient means are interposed between said member and the hull of the vehicle, said means has a downwardly extending keel, said planing surface has a water inlet for said propulsion means, and auxiliary propulsion means other than of water reaction type are provided. 

1. A gas-cushion vehicle having water jet propulsion means and a planing surface, characterized in that said planing surface contains a water inlet for said propulsion means.
 2. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 1, further characterized in that said planing surface is part of an upwardly displacable member.
 3. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 1, further characterized in that said inlet is elliptical.
 4. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said member has a downwardly extending keel.
 5. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said member is pivotable mounted at its forward end about an axis which is transverse of the vehicle.
 6. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that resilient means are interposed between said member and the hull of the vehicle.
 7. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that positively adjustable means are interposed between said member and the hull of the vehicle.
 8. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said propulsion means is housed within said displacable member.
 9. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 6, further characterized in that said member has a downwardly extending keel.
 10. A gas-cushion vehicle according to claim 7, further characterized in that said member has a downwardly extending keel.
 11. A gas-cushion vehicle having water jet propulsion means and a planing surface, characterized in that said planing surface is part of a member disposed within the vehicle''s cushion space and pivotable pivotably mounted at its forward end about an axis which is transverse of the vehicle, resilient means are interposed between said member and the hull of the vehicle, said means has a downwardly extending keel, said planing surface has a water inlet for said propulsion means, and auxiliary propulsion means other than of water reaction type are provided. 